I Became A Hidden Powerhouse Of The British Empire [EN]: Chapter 133

Taking What We Can Get

The Primorye region, also known as the Maritime Province in Russia, is a strategically important location that makes Russians eager with desire.

It’s not just about gaining a port that directly accesses the sea.

The geography itself completely encompasses the northeastern border of the Qing Dynasty and is adjacent to Joseon [Korea] through the Tumen River to the southwest.

Its geopolitical value is immense, as it can keep both sides in check while serving as a bridgehead for Russia’s maritime expansion.

It’s no coincidence that the prevailing theory in history is that Russia would have started a war to seize the Primorye region if it hadn’t been handed over during the Second Opium War. This is because Russia has always coveted the region for its strategic advantages.

Even in the recent war between Qing and the British Empire, most intellectuals predicted that Russia would have intervened if it had dragged on any longer.

Perhaps there would have been many voices of regret from the Russian side, wishing they had formed an alliance with Britain and attacked sooner, knowing that Qing was so weak.

But the thought that Britain would turn a blind eye to them taking such land was tempting for Nesselrode.

He would be willing to agree to almost any condition.

Of course, if it were a ‘reasonable’ condition.

“Please wait a moment. Even so, that place is a bit…”

“Is it too much?”

“Of course. What value does Alaska have? Asking for it is excessive!”

Nesselrode frowned, unable to manage his expression when he saw where my finger was pointing.

It was such an audacious proposal that it was a natural reaction.

“If the Primorye region were British territory, I would try to understand. If it were a land swap, there would be no problem. But the Primorye region is clearly Qing territory, so it doesn’t make sense to ask for Alaska in exchange for turning a blind eye to taking it.”

If Alaska came into the hands of the British Empire, the British Empire could build a military base in Alaska and openly target Russia.

The difference in power that could be mobilized from America was so significant that it was a waste of time to discuss it, so Russia could not help but feel a direct threat.

“But Minister, think about it. The reason we are so readily giving up the Primorye region is because we expected it would eventually become Russian territory. The same goes for Alaska. I believe you are aware that Canada is still expanding westward. If we’re not careful, Russia and the British Empire could clash over that area, and I believe you know what the outcome would be.”

“…That’s true, but…”

As I said, if a conflict were to break out over the Primorye region, the ultimate winner would likely be Russia.

But conversely, if a fight broke out over Alaska, 99 out of 100 times it would end in a British victory.

If you just look at the map, you might think that Russia and Alaska are close, so they can just send reinforcements, but Russia’s main force is concentrated around Moscow.

Sending troops from Moscow to Alaska would require a route as long as sending troops from the Korean Peninsula to Baghdad.

The problem is that going through the Arctic route is out of the question, so they have no choice but to walk by land.

Unless there is a railway, it is impossible for Russia to even dream of building a Trans-Siberian Railway with its current economic and technological level, so there is no solution.

On the other hand, the population on the Canadian side is increasing at an alarming rate, so there is no need to send troops.

Even in history, it was a land that would eventually be taken by Britain, so they sold it to the United States, but now the United States does not have the capacity to manage that land, and Canada is expanding rapidly at this very moment.

If you think about it objectively, you can easily see that there is no answer for Russia.

No matter how you look at it, it is more beneficial for Russia to exchange Alaska for the Primorye region.

Of course, if you ask them to hand it over for free, it’s like a robber, so they can’t help but resist, but the original negotiation is to start strong.

“The Russian side will be surprised that we are acting like we are doing them a favor with an area that is not even our land. But of course, as long as we sign an agreement, we will not just let it go. For example, if France tries to intervene in this matter, we will definitely stop them. And if the war escalates more than necessary, we will take responsibility and mediate with Qing. Of course, this mediation is on the premise of ceding the Primorye region to Russia.”

“Hoo…”

Nesselrode’s face, which had been sour, softened a little.

According to these conditions, Russia can really take the Primorye region without any obstacles.

If Britain prevents France from intervening, no one in Europe will object to Russia’s move.

And if Britain mediates in a direction favorable to Russia, Qing will eventually have no choice but to accept it.

“But even so, handing over Alaska is…”

“Then let’s do this. Instead of handing over Alaska, we will buy it at a fair price. Then Russia will not have to pay any cost to take the Primorye region.”

“Sale… I think the price is important.”

In history, Russia sold Alaska to the United States for only 7.2 million gold dollars.

Even considering the prices at the time, it was a considerable bargain, but originally Canada and the United States had often purchased territories at such low prices.

If we roughly calculate from this, 7.2 million dollars at the time would be a little over 1.4 million pounds, and if we apply the inflation rate of 20 years in reverse, let’s see.

“How about 1.2 million pounds? I think it’s appropriate.”

“No, that’s too cheap…”

To be honest, I think it’s too cheap.

About 7.2 million dollars at the time would be equivalent to 3 trillion won [approximately $2.5 billion USD] in modern terms, but now the pound is so strong that calculating it in pounds reduces the price to about 230 billion won [approximately $190 million USD]?

But what can I do? The British Empire is the best right now, so the value of the pound is absolute.

“It’s not cheap. 1.2 million pounds is enough to build the Liverpool Manchester Railway more than 6 times. If you can sell land that you can’t even protect for this price, wouldn’t that be a huge profit?”

“Still, 1.2 million pounds is too little.”

“Then how about 1.3 million pounds?”

“Let’s do 1.5 million pounds.”

“1.35 million pounds. Let’s compromise there. Instead, we will subtly leak information we have collected to help with the occupation of the Primorye region. Wouldn’t this be worth more than 150,000 pounds?”

Nesselrode paused and stroked his chin.

I can hear the sound of him calculating fiercely in his head, it’s encouraging.

“When you say information, what exactly do you mean?”

“Valuable practical data. We have data that we have organized in our own way while fighting with Qing, and it will be of great help.”

“That’s really tempting data. 1.35 million pounds for Alaska… To be honest, it’s too cheap, but if we can stably occupy the Primorye region…”

“It’s not just that. If Alaska comes into our hands, we will be preventing a definite conflict that may arise in the future. Frankly, how long will your country and we have to wear down our national power while engaging in such exhausting diplomatic maneuvering? Isn’t it time for us to aim for a more progressive relationship?”

“That’s true. I agree.”

Of course, no matter how much I talk like this, unless Russia gives up its greed, the Crimean War will happen unconditionally unless Russia gives up its greed or the relationship between Russia and the Ottomans improves.

When that happens, Britain and France will automatically have no choice but to participate, but that will happen more than 10 years later, so it’s none of my business.

When that time comes, I will not hesitate to break their heads, but right now, isn’t politics about smiling and exchanging pleasantries as if we can get along?

And although I didn’t say it at this meeting, Russia taking the Primorye region means that Joseon will soon be within Russia’s sphere of influence.

Is it just Joseon?

Japan will also feel a sense of crisis that Russia may push down and will have no choice but to feel pressured to do something.

In particular, now that I have subtly leaked to the two countries that Russia may come down to the Primorye region, they will have no choice but to enter a state of alert as soon as something actually happens.

In the long term, Russia’s advance into the Primorye region will be a good justification for the British Empire to firmly establish a presence in Northeast Asia.

If we can acquire Alaska as well, it will be a perfect win-win situation.

“We can negotiate peacefully like this, so why should we fight each other? We are comrades who have shed blood together as allies from the Napoleonic Wars in the distant past to the Eastern Crisis in Egypt in the near past. I have nothing more to ask for than to continue to reach agreements in a way that satisfies each other in the future.”

“I would like to do that, but His Highness the Duke has already stepped down from his position. Today will be the last time we meet in this position, so I am just sorry.”

“I know, right? Still, our British Empire is a country that loves peace… cough! As much as I love peace, my successor will surely be someone who agrees with the Minister.”

Now that an agreement has been reached, it’s time for endless flattery, praising each other with all our might.

Even as I say it, it’s nonsense that makes me wonder if this is right, but when I see them saying that Russia is a peaceful country that loves peace, my conscience wavers.

That’s why they say you get more and more shameless when you do politics and diplomacy.

Anyway, with this, we have succeeded in putting our mark on Alaska, one of the treasure troves of resources in the American continent.

The problem is that even if we bought it at a low price, there may be voices saying that it is not right to pay 1.35 million pounds and turn a blind eye to Russia taking the Primorye region.

It seems better to take measures in advance before such criticism arises.

* * *

“What? You’re saying you agreed to turn a blind eye to Russia taking this side in exchange for buying Alaska?”

As expected, when I unfolded the map and explained, Wellesley’s gaze, suspecting that I had finally gone crazy, was fixed on me.

“It was a deal worth doing. With this, the entire northern region of North America is in the hands of our British Empire.”

“That’s true, but the question is whether it’s worth paying a huge sum of 1.35 million pounds and accepting the condition of allowing Russia’s advance into the sea.”

“From a geographical point of view, Russia’s acquisition of the Primorye region is an inevitability that will happen someday.”

If we strengthen Qing and Joseon, we might be able to stop it, but there is no reason to do so, so it is out of the question.

“Hoo… Until now, we have been checking Russia so that it cannot occupy a warm-water port, but wouldn’t there be too much opposition to this?”

“Don’t look at it in the short term, but look at the bigger future. Russia’s acquisition of the Primorye region will rather be a medium for our British Empire to easily project influence on Qing or other Northeast Asian countries. If the opposition party expresses opposition, please persuade them like that.”

“That’s one thing, but what about the Alaska purchase price? I think if you’re going to buy that frozen wasteland, you’d rather have them lay one more railroad on the mainland.”

The fact that Alaska is a resource goldmine with tremendous value was a fact that was known to some extent even in the mid-19th century.

Even Russia knew that there were many resources buried in Alaska.

However, they did not know exactly how much it was, and of course, the current British Empire had no way of knowing that fact.

Often, when it comes to Alaska’s resources, only oil is widely known, but in fact, that is not very important now.

In the 21st century, oil is as good as gold, but how many people would really know its value even if oil poured out now?

Of course, even if we exclude oil, the value of Alaska was at a level that was impossible to count financially.

The most important resource now, iron ore, as well as coal, has the world’s largest reserves.

In addition, even gold, the best material to attract immigrants, is expected to be abundant.

It is said that the amount of gold mined in Alaska until the beginning of the 21st century is almost 1,000 tons or more, which is more than enough to cause a gold rush.

However, of course, there is no need to tell this fact as it is.

Even if I say it, if you ask how you know that, I don’t have an excuse to answer.

“1.35 million pounds will be raised from the private sector.”

“No… What idiot would give their money to buy that frozen wasteland?”

“Wouldn’t there be one if you look for it? If resources are found there, let’s recruit investors on the condition that we guarantee a certain portion of the mining rights for those resources. If it doesn’t work, I’ll just take the blame.”

“Hoo… No matter how I think about it, this one seems a bit reckless. Who would be foolish enough to throw money away on such land?”

I’m sorry, but there’s definitely at least one of those foolish people, right?

Right here.

As Wellesley said, if someone comes out and puts their mark on buying such wasteland, it’s a big deal, so I’m going to buy it all.

As soon as the announcement comes out, I can have James bid the full purchase price.

Now I can afford to pay 1.35 million pounds alone, and that’s when I should use the money.

I can take a lot of mining rights for the resources buried in Alaska with the money to lay the Liverpool Manchester Railway 6 times?

I can’t pass up this kind of opportunity.